Meera Munda (extreme left) blesses Deepika Kumari as Arjun Munda looks on during the felicitation ceremony in Ranchi on Wednesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Oct. 20: The state government, led by chief minister Arjun Munda, today basked in the glory of its archers who shone at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games by felicitating them at Munda’s official residence in the capital.

While Deepika Kumari and Rahul Banerjee were awarded Rs 10 lakh each, Jhanu Hansdah, Jayanta Talukdar and Bhagyawati Chanu were given Rs 3 lakh each. Bhagyawati could not attend the felicitation.

Munda handed over the cash awards to the Commonwealth Games winners at a small function at his residence at 3, Kanke Road, accompanied by better-half Meera, two deputies Sudesh Mahto and Hemant Soren, sports secretary Sukhdeo Singh, director Anurag Gupta and department officials. Giving the function a personal touch were the players’ family members.

“We are honouring the achievers so that they become an inspiration to the future generation of players,” said Munda, addressing the small gathering. He promised that the state government would award Rs 75 lakh to any player who bagged a gold medal in the Olympics.

Munda added the practice of honouring the players with cash would continue.

While Deepika won gold in team as well as in individual events, Rahul bagged an individual gold and a team bronze at the Commonwealth Games. Jayanta, Jhanu and Bhagyawati also bagged bronze.

Instead of sitting on their laurels, the players are eyeing the next target — the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China.

“Winning an Asiad medal is tough as archers of Korea, China and Japan are good. But I am training hard at the national camp organised in Calcutta,” said Jayanta. “I appreciate this cash award from the state government, but players like us need more such support,” he added.

Golden girl Deepika is also slated to leave for the Calcutta camp before the Asian Games. Rahul, also training at the Calcutta camp, beamed: “I am eyeing the gold.”

The archers will leave for China on November 12.